Today in History: Anniversary Of Hamlet Fire That Killed 25 Workers Locked In The Plant

Twenty-seven years ago today, twenty-five chicken processing workers were killed when fire swept through the Imperial Food Products Company plant in Hamlet, N.C. A grease fire started on a chicken fryer and spread quickly inside the Imperial Foods Products building. Emergency response was delayed because telephones inside the building could not be used. The building’s sprinkler system failed, forcing workers to run through heavy smoke. Workers tried desperately to escape the smoke and flames, clawing at exit doors that had been locked to keep the workers from stealing chickens.

In it’s entire 11 year existence, OSHA had never inspected the plant. Plant owner Emmett Roe, age 65, was sentenced to 19 years, 11 months in prison, but was let out after serving four.

But, of course, some lessons are never learned. OSHA still frequently cites establishments for blocked fire exits. Dollar General and Dollar Tree for example have been cited by OSHA numerous times for blocking exits. In 2015, OSHA reached a settlement with Dollar Tree concerning blocked exits and other issues. The settlement was intended to resolve numerous contested citations, and included an agreement by the company would pay $825,000 in penalties arising from 13 different inspections. Nevertheless, Dollar Tree violations continue, the most recent last July 3.

2 Comments

Actually 27 years ago yesterday. Sept 3, 1991. I live in NC and as a consultant I use this as a case study comparing the Tyson fire in Little Rock earlier that year when doing the OSHA 30.
Keep up the good work. I appreciate your insight.